My answer to Trade chat

[3wybar]

The private server doesn't contain any copyright information.
The stories and the graphics of WoW ( the IP ) is a "client based software" that resides on the players computer. The private server provides a chat and a positioning system ( etc.. )
that are based on "open source" software. Nobody has broken into Blizzards office and stolen a server.
The official statement is that Blizzard hasn't saved the setup of "Vanilla servers".
Meaning that. Even if Blizzard was hacked ? there would be nothing of value there for the Vanilla community.

Step 1 to get a proper understanding.
There are no "Internet copyright laws". There are only mutual standards of "open source software" and of sharing the server workloads to direct traffic ( that enable the Internet to function ) that no Company on Earth has ( yet ) disputed in a proper court of law. The Intellectual Property of Vanilla WoW ( that rightfully belongs to Blizzard ) resides in the client. Not on private servers.

Step 2. The private server ( in the case of Vanilla WoW ) is only a chat and a positional system that is derived from guess-work because there has been no "server code" released ( or stolen ) from Blizzard.
A similar "server engine" is used for emulating thousands of games, that are both free and paid for.
If this "open source code" is made illegal ? a large part of the Internet will shut down or get pushed into the "dark net" where there is no official statistic.
Meaning. More room for child predators and other freaks to attack private communities.

Playing on a private server is not like downloading a song without a "permission" ( which is also legally unclear ) Playing on a private server is like uploading a song, that you have remixed yourself.
A remix of a song that is no longer available.
It's a simple concept. And. A majority of people are wrong.

#TradeChat estimate of 350.000 $ per year of ongoing cost, is wrong.
The development of Vanilla is ( in aggregate ) done.
The particular team ( that was closed down ) could run the service ( incl forums ) for 500 $ per month.
Divided by 25.000 daily visitors and the sub fee would be 2 cents.
You don't need a College degree to calculate this.
Even if the cost was 10.000 $ per month ? the sub fee would be peanuts.
It would cost more to setup a "strict payment system" than the actual cost of running the service.
This is how terribly inefficient our current ( modern ) Society has become.

Blizzard is running into the unknown.
In the end. Blizzard will have to sue individual players.
At least a 100.000 people. And growing.
This is a shining can of whoop ass that Blizzard hasn't contemplated about.
They are basically clueless.
20 B dollars in "market cap" can not protect a Company from the proper laws of individual freedom and privacy.

[Crysthal]

You actually need a College degree to calculate this correctly.

It's just so much more than just the costs for running and supporting the server.

Look everybody says Blizzard is greedy and they are right look at their shop you can even buy fucking helmets for 15$ each just for having a "cool" fiery headpiece.
Do you really think if they could profit enormously from opening vanilla servers they'd still hesitate?

I hate Blizzard and will never forgive them shutting down nost but people are delusional about this topic.

If you put all aspects together it becomes a risky short term deal that's just not worth it.

[FoeReaper_]

The private server doesn't contain any copyright information.
The stories and the graphics of WoW ( the IP ) is a "client based software" that resides on the players computer. The private server provides a chat and a positioning system ( etc.. )
that are based on "open source" software. Nobody has broken into Blizzards office and stolen a server.
The official statement is that Blizzard hasn't saved the setup of "Vanilla servers".
Meaning that. Even if Blizzard was hacked ? there would be nothing of value there for the Vanilla community.

Without going into the nitty gritty, the emulator in and of itself is not illegal, nor does it contain any copyright protected information. However, for the server to run, it requires client data to be extracted, which is what is illegal, and copyright protected.

[umandez]

Only the MPQs for the pathing and vmaps. If that could be recreated without using the vanilla files the server would be legal.

Only the client would be breaking copyright if they did not own a valid licence for the game (CD Key)
breaking a ToS is not breaking the law (Atleast not in the UK)

[FoeReaper_]

Only the MPQs for the pathing and vmaps. If that could be recreated without using the vanilla files the server would be legal.

No, not entirely, it is a little more complicated than that. The DBC files are required for several things like item information, spell information, character creation information, faction information etc. While some of it could definitely be recreated, other parts are still flagged as unknown, but still used by the core/client. Parts would be figuratively impossible to guesstimate.

Then you have the map files and the models, these are parsed for pathing information, collision and line of sight related data. As well as map data for ingame map information like zone names, zone level, zone faction etc, as well as coordinate information. This would also be close to impossible to recreate from scratch not using the data files.

[Norjak]

It's not an issue of changing the game, the objective of Nostalrius was to be Blizzlike & not make any changes.

It's not an issue of being cost effective, these were volunteers doing it with their own time & resources. If Blizzard cannot or will not do it, then shouldn't someone else with more motivation be able to do it instead? I think that's the central argument...if Blizzard cannot provide the product (for whatever reason) then someone in the community will do it, with or without Blizzard's support.

[Vanillerific]

When the current game becomes less profitable and Blizzard no longer want to produce new content then we will see official legacy servers.

[Norjak]

When the current game becomes less profitable and Blizzard no longer want to produce new content then we will see official legacy servers.

That may be true, but there is a demand now , not 3-5 years from now (or more.)
The Nost community has clearly demonstrated the demand, and it cannot be easily dismissed by anyone.

[ivoryraptor]

whoa u did some research it seems there, feels like there still is hope, just by seeing how motivated ppl are, i mean it seems ou search things, that means you care.

[Gamblor]

In a legal sense, is there anything the playerbase can do to fight back? Can we bring Blizzard to small claims court for a refund of our original $50 vanilla wow purchase, plus $15/mo game fees for the first 2 years since they don't offer that service anymore?

Even if it costs us $50 to file, Blizz would have to send their corporate lawyers (or hire local lawyers in each location) to fight the case, right? Or would that open us to a countersuit, for them to reclaim their legal fees if they win the fight?

Signed...
Not A Lawyer